Releasable spider



J. GRANT RELEASABLE SPIDER April 6 1926.

Filed Jan. 20, 1925 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

. Patented Apr. 6,1926. I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN" GRANT, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

zen of the United States,

. BELEASABLE srnma.

Application m January :0, 1925. Serial no. aaso.

To all whom it may concern: 0

Be it known that I, J OHN GRANT, a citiand resident of Los Angeles, in the county 'of Los Angeles, Stateof California, have invented new an useful Improvements in a Releasable Spider,

"of'which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for supporting casing, pipe, tubing, or like cylindrical work, and is especially adaptable for use in oil well work wherein it is desired-to suspend the work from the surface. The present invention appertains to that type of suspension device known as a spider, wherein a collar is provided with a bore in which are disposed wedge slips arranged to grip and hold the work to be suspended.

It is the practice in oil well work to support the work by spiders, and, when it is desired to lower the work, to raise the latter to relieve the wedging action of the slips to ermit withdrawal of the latter. After wit drawal of the slips, the work may be lowered through the collar of the spider and the slips'.reinserted to again grip and hold the work. The lift of a string of casing, pipe, or tubing which is commonly several thousand feet in length and is immersed in a slush in the hole requires a force of great magnitude thereby producing a resultant strain which often causes damage to the derrick, the supporting tools, or the work itself.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a spider having slipswhich are releasable without requiring lifting of the work. There are certain other details of construction whereby a durable, .strong, simple, and economical structure is obtained, one which is easily manipulated and may be used for a variety of work. These objects together with other objects and corresponding accomplishments are obtained by means of the embodiment of .my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a ider with the collar and slips in position holding the work; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the collar and slips in released position; Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a fragment of the spider body showing the lifting ring and collar in elevation and in released position; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale of a section as seen on the line 5-'5 of Fig. 2.

Referring more articularly to the drawing, 6 indicates a ody having laterally exd, tending arms 7 to engage and rest upon a inpportmg surface so as to span a well Upstanding from the body is an annular rim 8. A bore 9 is formed in the body to provide for the passage of the work 10 therethrough. Formed in the body concentric with the bore 9 is an annular recess 11, and disposed in the bottom of the recess is a lifting ring 12, which may be conveniently held against turning by a key 13. The rlng 12 has its upper face indented to form teeth 14 having sloping edges 15 of lesser inclination than the opposite edges Arranged to be disposed in the annular recess and resting upon the ring 12 is a collar 16 having an annular projection 17 with a lower face corresponding in contour to the upper face of ring 12. The collar is formed with a tapered 'bore'to receive removable wedge slips 19 provided with the usual serrated faces. It will be noted that there is an abutment ring 20 formed in the v body immediately below the slip.

The collar 16 has, on diametrically oppo site sides, pairs of spaced lugs 21 formed with registering openings to receive pins or bolts. On the body are corresponding lugs 22 in which are pivotally mounted links 23.

The links have eyes adapted to be disposedin registration with the eyes in lugs 21, when the collar is in its upper or holding position. Secured to the body is a spring leaf 24 arranged to be disposed in a recess 25 in the collar 16. Pivotally secured to the leaf is a release lever 26 having a cam end 27 arranged so that when the lever is swung into horizontal position, the cam end 27 will be in engagement with the body and hold the leaf spring away from the latter and out of the recess 25 in collar 16.

Suppose it is desired to hold the work 10 in the hole, in position over the hole with its collar raised to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the slips being removed, and the work 10 inserted through the bore. When the work is in theproper position for supporting it, the slips 19 are dropped into position and the weight of the pipe released from the supporting apparatus so that the slips are wedged into position and hold the work.

In the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the

'REISSUED the body of the spider is placed spring catch 24 should be in position shown in Fig. 5 thereby holding the collar against turning, the ends of the teeth on the exten sion 17 resting upon the top of the teeth on ring 12. Suppose it is now desired to release the work from support by the body, its collar 16 is grasped in any suitable manner, latch 24 released, by raising handle 26 and the collar turned so that the teeth on projection 11 and the ring 12 mesh, the collar moving downwardly. If the axial movement is equal to the stretch of the pipe or tubing, the slips will immediately release.

However, upon further downward movement of the collar, the slips 19 engage abutment rin and releasing them from their wedged action against the work 10. This frees the work. If it is. desired to use the device without employing the slip release means, its collar is placed in its upper position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and links 23 are raised and locked to lugs 21 by inserting bolts throu h the registering openings.

What I c aim is: I

1. A device of the character described comprising the combination of a supporting body, a collar supported by said body so as to be raised or lowered at will, wedge slips disposed in said collar for holding the work upon being forced downwardly insaid col-- A lar, and a normally stationary abutment on said body arranged to engage \said slips upon lowering of said collar whereby to move said slips upwardly with respect to said collar and thereby release the work.

2. A device of the character described comprising the combination of a suportin'g bod a collar supported by said body, means to raise or lower said-collar at will, wedge slips disposed in said collar for holding the work upon being forced downwardly in said collar, and a normally stationary abutment on said body arranged to engage said slips upon lowering said collar whereby to move said slips upwardly with respect to said collar and thereby'release the work.

3. A device of the character described comprising the combination of a supporting body having a bore through which the work may be passed, a collar supported by said body so as to be raised and lowered at will, wedge slips disposed in said collar for gripping the work upon being forced downwardly in said collar, and normally stationary abutment means on said body arranged to engage said slips upon lowering of said collar whereby to move said slips upwardly with respect to said collar and thereby release the work.

4. A device of the character described comprising the combination of a supporting body having a bore through which the work 'mzhy be passed, a collar suported by said bo y,

means to raise or lower said collar at 20 thereby forcing the slips upwardly will, wedge slips disposed in said collar for gripping the work upon being forced downwardly in said collar, and normally stationary abutment means on said body arranged to engage said slips upon lowering of said collar whereby to move said slips upwardly with respect to said collar and thereby release the work.

5. A device of the character described comprising the combination of a supporting 6. A device of the character described comprising the combination of a supporting bod a collar supported by said body so as to be-raised or lowered, a lifting ring interposed between said body and said collar, said collar and said ring having corresponding indentations for raising and lowering said collar on said body, wedge slips disposed in said collar for grip ing the work upon being forced downward y in said collar, and an abutment on said body arranged to engage said slips upon lowering of said collar whereby to move said slips upwardly with respect to said collar and thereby release the work.

7. A device of the comprising the combination of a supporting body, a collar supported by said' body so as to permit rotation and axial movement thereof, means interposed between said body and said collar whereby rotation of said collar will raise .or lower the latter on said body, wedge slips disposed in said collar for gripping the work upon being forced downwardly in said collar, and abutment means on said body arranged to engage said slips upon lowering of said collar whereby to move said slips upwardly with respect to said collar and thereby release the work.

8. A device of the character described comprising the combination of a supporting body, a collar supported by said body so as to permit rotation and axial movement, a lifting ring interposed between said body and said collar, said collar and said ring having corresponding teeth with sloping sides whereby rotation of said collar will raise or lower the latter, wedge slips disposed in said collar for gripping the work upon being forced downwardly in said collar, and abutment means on said body arranged to engage said slips upon lowering of said collar whereby to move said slips character described 7 upwardly with respect to said collar and thereby release the work.

t). A device of the character described comprising the combination of a supporting body, a collar supported by said body so as to be raisedand lowered, a lifting ring interposed between said body and said collar for raising and lowering said-collar on said body, wedge slips disposed in said collar vfor gripping the work upon being Forced downwardly in said collar, and an annular abutment on'said body registering with said slips and arranged to engage the latter upon lowering of said collar thereby to move said slips upwardly with respect to said collar and thereby release the work.

10. A device of the character described comprising the combination of a supporting body, and a collar supported by said body so as to be raised or lowered, a lifting ring interposed between said body and said collar, said collar and said ring having corresponding teeth for raising and lowering said collar, wedge slips disposed in said collar for gripping the work upon being forced downwardly in said collar, and an annular abutment on said body registering with said slips arranged to engage the latter upon lowering of said collar whereby to move said slips upwardly with respect to said collar and thereby release the work.

11. A device of the character described comprising the combination of a supporting body, a collar supported by said body so as to permit rotation and axial movement, a lifting ring interposed between said body and said collar, said collar and said ring having corresponding teeth with sloping sides whereby rotation of said collar will raise or lower the latter, wedge slips disposed in said collar for gripping the work upon being forced downwardly in said collarand an annular abutment on said body registering with said slips and arranged to engage the latter upon lowering of said collar whereby to move said slips upwardly with respect to said collar and thereby release the work.

12. A device of the character described comprising the combination of a supporting body, a collar supported by said body so as to be raised or lowered thereon, a lifting ring interposed between said body and said collar, said collar and said ring having corresponding indentations for raising and lowering said collar on said body, and wedge slips disposed in said collar for gripping the work upon being forced downwardly in said collar.

13. A device of the charater described comprising the combination of a supporting body. a collar supported by said body so as to permit rotation and axial n'iovemcnt thereof. means interposed between said body and said collar whereby rotation of said collar will raise or lower the latter on said body, and wedge-slips disposed in said collar for gripping the work upon being forced downwardly in said collar.

14. A device of the character described comprising the combination of a supporting body, a collar supported by said body so as to permit rotation and axial movement, a lifting ring interposed between said body and said collar, said collar and said ring having corresponding teeth with sloping sides whereby rotation of said collar will raise or lower the latter, and wedge slips disposed in said collar for gripping the work upon being forced downwardly in said collar. I

15. A device of the character described comprising the combination of a supporting body, a collar through which the work may be passed, said collar being supported in said body for axial movement therein, wedge slips mounted in said collar, and abutment means disposed below said slips so as to be engaged thereby upon lowering said collar in said body and to move the latter so as to release their hold upon the work.

16. A device of the character described comprising the combination of a supporting body, means including wedge slips mounted in said body, said means being movable upwardly and downwardly in said body at will, and abutment means disposed to be engaged by said slips upon lowering said means in said body.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th day of December, 1924.

i JOHN GRANT. 

